The Botany of Shakespeare 211 



of form, for the time as the main topic of discussion, to 

 show what the poet has heard or read. 



Take, for instance, Chaucer's picture of an English 

 forest and his quest there for the nightingale. The 

 nightingale is the proper bird for the poet. The poets 

 had often told each other so. Chaucer had read what his 

 predecessors had to say, and accordingly, on a certain 

 morning, as if to meet a personage of distinction, he ar- 

 rays himself appropriately and sallies forth a little way 

 from London to hear, if fortune favor, the poetic bird 

 of languor. This was a most creditable thing to do; 

 Chaucer was scientific so far; he wished to see and hear 

 for himself. Literary men in all ages are wont to wor- 

 ship traditional nightingales ; not so Chaucer. But hear 

 him: 



"Up I rose three hour6s after twelfe 

 About the springing of the gladsome day, 

 And on I put my gear and mine array, 

 And to a pleasant grove I 'gan to pass 

 Long ere the brighte sun uprisen was; 



' ' In which were oakes great, straight as a line, 

 Under which the grass so fresh of hue 

 Was newly sprung; and an eight foot or nine 

 Every tree well from his fellow grew, 

 With branches broad laden with leaves new, 

 That sprungen out against the sunn6 sheen, 

 Some very red, and some a glad light green, 



"Which (as me thought) was a right pleasant sight; 

 And eke the birdee songes for to hear 

 Would have rejoiced any earthly wight; 

 And I, that could not yet in no mannere 

 Hearen the nightingale of all the year, 



